Abdelilah Hamdouchi

I had no idea that police novels were a “thing” in Morocco. By which I mean that the very helpful afterword explained how the genre developed as an indirect means of criticizing the political situation, criticism which I understand and am sympathetic to. But a simple murder mystery where the story revolves around who did it and will our hero get convicted? This is a short book (under 150 pages) whose message is unmistakable; the setting (though well-drawn) isn't particularly important and neither are the characters. Rather, the book is a damning account of the Moroccan legal system—something undoubtedly well worth the indictment. But that’s pretty much all you’ll find here. I’m not downplaying the message; only suggesting that if you’re looking for great literature, this wouldn’t be a place to start.… (mehr)

The Butcher of Casablanca is a suspenseful mystery that threatens to stump the well known Detective Hanash. Bags filled with dismembered body parts are found in dumpsters, but only the legs, leaving no way to identify the victims. Hanash hits a dead end until the killer leaves a bag of body parts right outside police headquarters. This might be the one with a clue. Hanash only needs a thread to pull to find the murderer. There are some really interesting events and other murders that have Hanash sidetracked. But not for long. This is a really good story with hints and twists, all very realistic. Recommended.… (mehr)

Bled Dry is the second book by Abdelilah Hamdouchi that I have read and this author isn’t interested in luring tourists to Morocco as he appears to relish showing the dark side of this country. This story is set in Casablanca and details a gruesome double murder. The senior investigator is Detective Hanash, who works the case along with his team but it becomes obvious right from the start that the police aren’t trying very hard to understand the crime and arrive at the truth, but instead to simply reach a result which will lead to their appearing to have solved the crime.

The author gives us a bird’s eye view of the casual corruption that exists in day to day life in Morocco. We read of police torture, the moral perversion that sees young girls led into prostitution and coming under the thumb of those who control them, and how unemployed young men are being lured into religious extremism. Bled Dry is less of a detective story and more a statement about the poverty and lack of opportunity in this country.

The author does not hesitate to depict graphic and gory scenes that can be quite disturbing, but I feel that this book gives an insight into the seedy side of the country, the areas not necessarily been seen by the tourists. The writing can be a little choppy in areas, but perhaps this is the result of being a translation. There are no admirable characters in this story, and I felt sorry for every woman that appeared on the pages, from housewives to prostitutes, they live a shadow life, totally under the rules and domination of men.… (mehr)

Othman, a young, 20-something, handsome man; is married to Sophia, a vivacious, French septuagenarian. Together they run Sophia’s restaurant in Casablanca, entertaining friends and patrons. While things seem fine on the surface, Othman (have I mentioned he has a law degree but has not been able to practice?) has tired of his old lady and has acquired a girlfriend with whom he meets for fifteen minutes most evenings under the guise of walking the dog. Alas, Sophie is found brutally murdered, stabbed in her own bed. Did the handsome, young Othman do the deed?

What is as interesting as a murder mystery set in Morocco, is the picture the author and his story gives the reader of the country itself (bearing in mind this book was first published in Arabic 20 years ago). Some of the women in the story are relatively modern, some less so, but they are all secondary characters at best. The police reminded me of 1930s thuggery and sometimes it bordered on the comic. But the story moves fast and one does want to know if Othman did the dirty deed, or if he didn’t, how he will avoid being convicted for it anyway. The narrative takes an interesting turn. There is a very enlightening, short afterword written by the translator about the story and changes going on in Morocco at the time which this novel was written.

I gave the book four stars for the entertainment, and also for what the author was attempting to do in it. I think I might like to read one of Mr. Hamdouchi’s recent installments to see how Morocco and justice has changed…or not.… (mehr)